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Can the A argument be indexed by a prefix/proclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
Summary
Is there a phonologically bound A argument index that precedes its verbal host (i.e. attaches to it as a prefix or a proclitic)?
Procedure
- Consider the section in the grammar that deals with verbal morphology, specifically the subsections on (pronominal) agreement or argument cross-referencing.
- Code 1 if there is a phonologically bound element that indexes the A argument on the verb or auxiliary. The index needs to precede the verbal host it is bound to.
- If there is some variation in the position of the A index conditioned by the verb (e.g. most verbs code the A argument with a suffix, but a couple use a prefix), consider only the patterns which occur with large classes of verbs.
- If the verb shows overt indexing only with some arguments (e.g. only with animate arguments or only with first person singular arguments, the situation known as differential argument indexing), this still counts as 1.
- If the A argument is indexed but not by a prefix or proclitic, code 0.
- If there is no indexing of the A argument, code 0.
- If only a small set of verbs (fewer than a dozen) indexes A arguments, code 0.
- Ignore all other ways of indexing arguments (e.g. via a stem alternation, stress or tone), they are not covered by any of the Grambank features.
Examples
Bukiyip (ISO 639-3: ape, Glottolog: buki1249)
The verb in Bukiyip indexes S, A, and P arguments. The A argument is always expressed as a prefix (see Conrad & Wogiga 1991: 25–33). Code as 1.
Monoken da wo ny-ú-klipw-e ye?
why therefore NEG 2SG.SBJ-IRR-tell-1SG.OBJ NEG
‘Why didn't you tell me?’ (Conrad & Wogiga 1991: 42)
Makasae-Makalero (ISO 639-3: mkz, Glottolog: maka1316)
In Makasae-Makalero most verbs do not index core arguments, as in (a)–(d). A set of five verbs index the number of S and A arguments via suppletive stem allomorphs (Huber 2011: 130). This set is not sufficient for coding as 1: it is a small set of verbs and the respective indexes are not prefixes. Makasae-Makalero is coded as 0.
a. Ani hai mu’a-li’an.
1SG NSIT ground-fall
‘I already fell down.’ (Huber 2011: 146)
b. Ani ei pase.
1SG 2SG beat
‘I beat you.’ (Huber 2011: 218)
c. Ei ani pase.
2SG 1SG beat
‘You beat me.’ (Huber 2011: 218)
d. Ina-uai ni-mata uaro
mother-HON REFL-child wash
‘The mother is washing her child’ (Huber 2011: 391)
(Abbreviations: NSIT new situation)
Further reading
Haspelmath, Martin. 2013. Argument indexing: a conceptual framework for the syntactic status of bound person forms. In Dik Bakker & Martin Haspelmath (eds), Languages across boundaries: Studies in memory of Anna Siewierska, 198–226. Berlin: de Gruyter.
Siewierska, Anna. 2013. Alignment of verbal person marking. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds), The world atlas of language structures online. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
References
Conrad, Robert J. & Kepas Wogiga. 1991. An outline of Bukiyip grammar. (Pacific Linguistics: Series C, 113.) Canberra: Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.
Huber, Juliette. 2011. A grammar of Makalero: A Papuan language of East Timor. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. (Doctoral dissertation.)
Related Features
- GB089 Can the S argument be indexed by a suffix/enclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
- GB090 Can the S argument be indexed by a prefix/proclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
- GB091 Can the A argument be indexed by a suffix/enclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
- GB093 Can the P argument be indexed by a suffix/enclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
- GB094 Can the P argument be indexed by a prefix/proclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
Patron
Alena Witzlack-Makarevich